Bulger killer 'will offend again'

Bulger killer 'will offend again'

Bulger killer 'will offend again'

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Denise Fergus, mother of murdered toddler James Bulger, said Jon Venables is 'a danger to the public'

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James Bulger was abducted from a shopping centre in Bootle

The father of James Bulger has hit out after one of his son's killers was released from prison for a second time and declared he believes he will offend again.

Jon Venables, 31 was freed from prison after being locked up in 2010 for downloading images of child abuse. Legal sources confirmed Venables had been released.

Venables had previously served eight years for murdering two-year-old James in Livepool in 1993. The killer has reportedly been given his fourth new identity at a reported cost of £250,000.

James's father, Ralph, believes Venables will commit more crime, a friend said. "He hasn't put a time on it but he is convinced he will reoffend," she said.

She added that James's family were given scant information about Venables' release and Mr Bulger was told via his lawyer. "As ever they are kept in the dark. They don't explain the terms of his release, I don't know whether they are going to. But I don't think Venables can enter Merseyside, however - that was one of the conditions which he repeatedly broke before."

The toddler's mother, Denise Fergus, told the Sun Venables is "a danger to the public".

"He lies for his own sick ends," she said. "I have been told that the terms of his parole mean that he must not enter the county of Merseyside. But the Probation Service didn't monitor him properly last time so I have no faith in their ability to do that now. They should've kept him locked up for a long time."

Venables was just 10 years old when he and his friend, Robert Thompson, tortured and murdered James after abducting him from a shopping centre in Bootle.

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "We do not comment on individual offenders. The re-release of life licensed offenders is directed by the independent Parole Board once they are satisfied they can be safely managed in the community.

"Their life licence lasts for the rest of their lives, and they may be recalled to prison at any time for breaching their licence conditions. Additionally, they will be subject to strict controls and restrictions for as long as their risk requires them."